LAPD officer hit, suspect killed in freeway shootout

An officer was hit exchanging gunfire with a suspect, sustaining a "significant leg wound"

By Joseph Serna
Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES — A section of the northbound 110 Freeway heading into downtown was closed early Monday as Los Angeles police investigated a shooting that they said left one of two gunmen dead and an officer wounded.

The incident involved two men firing at LAPD officers from an SUV when the officers tried to pull them over for reckless driving at about 2:20 a.m., police said. The two men sped on and off the freeway and twice fired at police, LAPD Deputy Chief Bob Green said.

The pursuit ended when the SUV crashed at 37th and Hill streets, NBC Los Angeles reported. The two men ran from the scene, and police closed off several blocks in the area and began a search, authorities said.

One of the men was found in a dumpster, but refused to surrender, Green said, and an LAPD SWAT team used a flash grenade to flush him out.

Police who continued to comb the area ended up exchanging gunfire with the second suspect and an officer was hit, sustaining a "significant leg wound," Green said.

Officers returned fire and "put him down," Green said. The man, who was not immediately identified, was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.

The condition of the wounded officer, who was rushed to a nearby hospital, was not immediately available. The surviving suspect remained in custody, police said.

Meanwhile, the northbound lanes of the 110 Freeway remained closed between Slauson Avenue and Exposition Boulevard as investigators combed the area for evidence, including bullets and shell casings.

All onramps and offramps between the two streets were also closed, with traffic being diverted into carpool Fast Track lanes, according to the California Highway Patrol.

There was no immediate estimate for when the freeway would be reopened.